Donor Surgical Morbidity in Pediatric Living-Donor Liver Transplant: A Portuguese Experience.

Purpose: Living-donor liver transplant emerged as an alternative treatment for end stage liver disease due to the lack of cadaveric organs availability that met the demand. In Portugal, pediatric living-donor liver transplant (P-LDLT) was initiated in 2001 in Portugal in order to compensate for the scarcity of cadaveric organs for such cases. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the morbi-mortality of the 28 donors included in P-LDLT program performed at Coimbra's Pediatric Hospital (CHUC), a Portuguese reference center.

ABO Incompatible Liver Transplantation in Children: A 20 Year Experience from Centres in the TransplantChild European Reference Network.

An increasing number of AB0-incompatible (AB0i) liver transplantations (LT) are being undertaken internationally in recent years due to organ shortages and the need for urgent transplantation. The aim of our study was establish the value of ABOi LT from available retrospective results of AB0i pediatric liver transplantations performed in European reference centers now belonging to the TransplantChild, European Reference Network (ERN). Data from medical records were analyzed, including demographic data, diagnosis, urgency of transplantation, time on the waiting list, PELD/MELD score, desensitization procedures, immunosuppression, selected post-transplant complications, and patient and graft survival.

Current Practices on Diagnosis, Prevention and Treatment of Post-Transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in Pediatric Patients after Solid Organ Transplantation: Results of ERN TransplantChild Healthcare Working Group Survey.

(1) Background: Post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) is a significant complication of solid organ transplantation (SOT). However, there is lack of consensus in PTLD management. Our aim was to establish a present benchmark for comparison between international centers and between various organ transplant systems and modalities; (2) Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire of relevant PTLD practices in pediatric transplantation was sent to multidisciplinary teams from 17 European center members of ERN TransplantChild to evaluate the centers' approach strategies for diagnosis and treatment and how current practices impact a cross-sectional series of PTLD cases; (3) Results: A total of 34 SOT programs from 13 European centers participated.

Auxiliary liver transplantation for management of acute liver failure in children - Systematic review.

Introduction: Liver transplantation (LT) remains the standard of care in the treatment of acute pediatric liver failure (PALF) for the replacement of a severely damaged native liver in patients who are unlikely to recover. However, this is burdened by the consequences of long-term immunosuppression. Auxiliary partial liver orthotopic transplantation (APOLT) has emerged as a possible improved approach, by providing a graft that assures liver function until the regeneration of the native liver occurs, and then allows for possible progression to immunosuppression withdrawal.

Pediatric transplantation in Europe during the COVID-19 pandemic: Early impact on activity and healthcare.

The current pandemic SARS-CoV-2 has required an unusual allocation of resources that can negatively impact chronically ill patients and high-complexity procedures. Across the European Reference Network on Pediatric Transplantation (ERN TransplantChild), we conducted a survey to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on pediatric transplant activity and healthcare practices in both solid organ transplantation (SOT) and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The replies of 30 professionals from 18 centers in Europe were collected.

Oesophageal atresia with tracheo-oesophageal fistula, ileal atresia and Hirschsprung's disease: outcome of a rare phenotype.

Oesophageal atresia with or without tracheo-oesophageal fistula, ileal atresia and Hirschsprung's disease are surgical malformations of the gastrointestinal tract typically diagnosed early in the neonatal period and varying in severity and prognosis. This report describes a full-term male newborn presenting simultaneous oesophageal atresia with distal tracheo-oesophageal fistula, ileal atresia and Hirschsprung's disease. In addition to the complex types of gastrointestinal malformations involved, the combination of ileal atresia and Hirschsprung's disease, as well as ganglion cells distal to intestinal atresia, resulted in a challenging diagnosis.

Successful liver transplantation using a whole liver graft with gallbladder agenesis: First report in pediatric liver transplantation.

Introduction: Gallbladder agenesis (GA) is a rare congenital condition, occurring in approximately 40/100.000. It is likely due to an embryologic mishap in the development of the gallbladder bud and can be associated with other congenital variations in biliary anatomy.

[Perioperative morbidity and mortality in the first year of life: a systematic review (1997-2012)].

Background And Objectives: Although many recognize that the first year of life and specifically the neonatal period are associated with increased risk of anesthetic morbidity and mortality, there are no studies directed to these pediatric subpopulations. This systematic review of the scientific literature including the last 15 years aimed to analyze the epidemiology of morbidity and mortality associated with general anesthesia and surgery in the first year of life and particularly in the neonatal (first month) period.

Content: The review was conducted by searching publications in Medline/PubMed databases, and the following outcomes were evaluated: early mortality in the first year of life (<1 Yr) and in subgroups of different vulnerability in this age group (0-30 days and 1-12 months) and the prevalence of cardiac arrest and perioperative critical/adverse events of various types in the same subgroups.

Perioperative morbidity and mortality in the first year of life: a systematic review (1997-2012).

Background And Objectives: Although many recognize that the first year of life and specifically the neonatal period are associated with increased risk of anesthetic morbidity and mortality, there are no studies directed to these pediatric subpopulations. This systematic review of the scientific literature including the last 15 years aimed to analyze the epidemiology of morbidity and mortality associated with general anesthesia and surgery in the first year of life and particularly in the neonatal (first month) period.

Content: The review was conducted by searching publications in Medline/PubMed databases, and the following outcomes were evaluated: early mortality in the first year of life (<1 year) and in subgroups of different vulnerability in this age group (0-30 days and 1-12 months) and the prevalence of cardiac arrest and perioperative critical/adverse events of various types in the same subgroups.

[Pediatric anesthetic during brain immaturity and neurodevelopment disorders].

Introduction: Several experimental and clinical studies suggest that drugs used in pediatric anesthesia may exert undesirable effects on the developing central nervous system. The objective of this review was to assess the results and conclusions of published studies on long lasting neurodevelopment disorders following exposure to anesthetics in children in a phase of brain immaturity.

Material And Methods: We performed a literature search in several sources (PubMed, SciELO and Cochrane Library) using the terms 'Pediatric anesthesia OR Pediatric anesthetic OR Developing brain anesthetic OR Developing brain anesthesia AND behavior disorders'.

Early mortality after neonatal surgery: analysis of risk factors in an optimized health care system for the surgical newborn.

Objective: Anesthetic and operative interventions in neonates remain hazardous procedures, given the vulnerability of the patients in this pediatric population. The aim was to determine the preoperative and intraoperative factors associated with 30-day post-operative mortality and describe mortality outcomes following neonatal surgery under general anesthesia in our center.

Methods: Infants less than 28 days of age who underwent general anesthesia for surgery during an 11-year period (2000 - 2010) in our tertiary care pediatric center were retrospectively identified using the pediatric intensive care unit database.

Predictors of major postoperative complications in neonatal surgery.

Objective: To investigate the incidence and severity of early postoperative complications and to identify their risk factors in newborns undergoing surgery under general anesthesia.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 437 critically ill newborns undergoing surgery in a tertiary pediatric surgical center, between January 2000 and December 2010. Complications that occurred within the first 30 days after surgery were classified using the Clavien-Dindo system, for which grades III to V were considered severe.

In vivo biocompatibility of Resilon compared with gutta-percha in a pre-clinical model.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo biocompatibility of Resilon, compared with gutta-percha, at short and long-term following implantation in a rat subcutaneous implantation model.

Materials And Methods: Male Wistar rats were implanted subcutaneously with either Resilon or gutta-percha or were sham controls. Tissues were harvested at 8 days or 60 days after implantation and were evaluated histologically for inflammation and fibrous encapsulation.

Juvenile polyposis of infancy in a child with deletion of BMPR1A and PTEN genes: surgical approach.

Juvenile polyposis of infancy is the most severe and life-threatening form of juvenile polyposis. This disease typically presents in the first two years of life with gastrointestinal bleeding, diarrhea, inanition, and exudative enteropathy. In very few reports concerning this entity, a large deletion in the long arm of chromosome 10 (10q23), encompassing the PTEN and BMPR1A genes, was found.

[Effect of hydroxyethyl starch on acute renal injury in a model of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion].

Background: Hepatic vascular control techniques employed during liver surgery are usually associated with ischemia-reperfusion injury, which could cause acute renal dysfunction. The murine model has been used in the study of this injury. Hydroxyethyl starch has recognized anti-inflammatory properties and improves microcirculation.

Outcomes of choledochal cysts with or without intrahepatic involvement in children after extrahepatic cyst excision and Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy.

Background: Type I and type IV-A choledochal cysts (CC) in Todani's classification are the most frequent types of CC. Unlike type I cyst, in which the dilatation is confined to the extrahepatic bile duct, type IV-A affects both extra and intrahepatic ducts.

Aim: To review our experience of complete cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy for the treatment of type I and type IV-A CC in childhood, in order to better characterize these entities.

Protective perioperative strategy using a third generation hydroxyethyl starch during surgery in a murine model of liver reperfusion injury.

Purpose: To investigate whether a third generation colloid, hydroxyethyl starch (HES 130/0.4), used for perioperative fluid therapy, protects the rat liver against the late-phase response of ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) and if inhibition of neutrophil hepatic infiltration plays a part in this mechanism.

Methods: Wistar rats were used (8 in each group).

Lasting developmental effects of neonatal fentanyl exposure in preweanling rats.

The present study aimed to determine whether neonatal treatment with fentanyl has lasting effects on stressed developing brain. Six-day-old rats were assigned to one of three groups (10 males/group): (1) fentanyl (incision+fentanyl), (2) saline (incision+0.9% saline), and (3) unoperated (unoperated sham).

Grafts of porcine intestinal submucosa for repair of cervical and abdominal esophageal defects in the rat.

Porcine small intestinal submucosa (SIS) is a cell-free collagen matrix that has demonstrated its ability as scaffold material for constructive remodeling of damaged or missing tissue. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the morphology and function of esophagoplasty in rat using a porcine SIS scaffold for the repair of a semi-circumferential defect in the cervical or in the abdominal esophagus. Sixty-seven rats underwent surgical excision of the anterior wall either of the cervical or of the abdominal esophagus and subsequent repair of the defect with an SIS patch graft.

Very long gap esophageal atresia successfully treated by esophageal lengthening using external traction sutures.

Esophageal atresia with a 6-cm gap or longer and a very short distal segment represents the extreme of this disorder's spectrum, the treatment of which can be challenging. Very often, several surgical procedures have to be carried out to maintain the patient's own esophagus. The authors report on a child born with isolated esophageal atresia without fistula and a very long gap (8.

A rat model for the study of intestinal heterotopic gastropathy.

This study analyzes an experimental model for the study of reactions from gastric tissue exposed to enteric environment. Morphological studies were performed by histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, using formalin-fixed biopsies of full-wall-thickness gastric implants in a whole-wall jejunal defect. These grafts suffered severe lesions, characterized by chronic atrophic gastritis, foveolar hyperplasia, glandular cystic transformation, and intestinal metaplasia.